One of me and my sister’s favourite programmes for post-school relaxation was America’s Next Top Model because we were delighted by the concept of a panel of beautiful people picking out the most beautiful people in the USA. Oh, and Read more...

Attending an all girls’ school for 7 years meant I was surrounded by the latest updates and analysis of Love Island, Ex on the Beach, and The Bachelor etc., which soon became talk about potential relationships and everything Read more...

I wonder how many times you’ve thought this or said it, without even thinking about it, to your friends or family? Do you ever think about just how often you compare yourself to other girls? The way they look, the Read more...

I was standing backstage at a conference, waiting to go and speak to my first big crowd of people and oh. my. gosh. I was petrified.

There are so many pressures that come with being a teenage girl; suddenly feeling that the world requires you to look a certain way, being in the ‘right’ crowd in high school, and keeping up with what’s in/out. It’s also Read more...

Have you ever compared yourself to someone else, only to end up feeling totally rubbish? Suddenly you feel like a gremlin standing next to a princess, when you’re simply hanging out with your best friend.

Lugging my HUGE suitcase across the London Underground on my travels home from university, I recall sitting on a platform watching hundreds of people flooding in and out of the tube. I remember noticing many slim, beautifully-dressed women and I Read more...

I don’t know about you but my phone is always in my hand. Or in my pocket. Or on my bedside table right next to where I’m sleeping. I don’t think it’s ever more than a few metres away from Read more...

During the week I work in our local high school. My role is to befriend students, listen to them, give them advice and help them with tricky situations. When I’m talking to them I listen carefully to the words they Read more...

Did you know 1 in 4 people live with a mental health problem? I’m among them. Here’s my story of living with an eating disorder, depression and anxiety. A journey of pain, but also a journey of hope and transformation. Read more...

As I sit and type this, the song Simply having a wonderful Christmas time is ringing out in my local coffee shop. There are snowflakes and robins hanging from the ceiling and my cup is filled with Read more...

A few years ago I was on a train with my mum. We hadn’t seen each other in four weeks so we had loads to catch up on. During the 45 minute train journey we spent every moment sharing stories Read more...

My friend Katie* told me a story recently about a student who had put their wet washing up on the line before they went out. When she returned, her washing had been taken down and someone else’s was up. She Read more...

Some of you will know that last week I brought home a puppy called Mollie! She’s lovely but my week has been filled with poos and wees everywhere! At one point Mollie pooed and then she ran in it – Read more...

by Claire Rush

We have been so inspired by koko’s ‘I’ve got your back!’ video. Those four words are easy to say when you’re saying them to people that you know and love. But there are many young women across Read more...

Over 70,000 of us joined in with the 40acts challenge:Instead of giving something up for Lent,
give something out to those around you.Here’s what Hannah, Lydia, Sarah, Rachael, Nat, Grace, Beth and I got up to…

Well, we’ve had a whole year of these blogs; 2014 has gone so fast! I don’t know whether this year has been a really good one for you or whether it’s been a tough one. But let’s remind ourselves of Read more...

I represent a teenage girl. My question is do you know what I’m facing?

-A few of you have been asking about the monologue I performed at YWS14 so I thought I’d post it here.
I hope it challenges and Read more...

I’ve been at university for about six weeks now and it’s already feeling like a second home. My course is great and my flatmates are lovely. It’s funny how quickly you can become close friends with somebody when you live Read more...

It’s such a beautiful day today that I’ve wandered down to my local park. The sun’s beaming down on me and the birds are singing away. I’m quite tempted to do some sort of Disney-esque dance and song through the Read more...

The other day I was out for dinner with about 30 people I’d only just met when we started talking about musicals. I was split seconds from saying that my ultimate all-time favourite musical is The Lion King when the Read more...

Exploring.

I love stories. We’re all made of them aren’t we?… good ones and sad ones, funny ones and difficult ones. I always love hearing stories, especially if they can teach me something. So, I’m really pleased to be posting this Read more...

I’m sitting on a bench by the sea, and I just had to write to you. Above me is a beautiful blossom tree. As I write, little bits of blossom are falling off and surrounding me… by the time I Read more...

Abbie P! I just had to share this comment that you’ve posted on the latest vlog.
THANK YOU! It’s really made my day. I can’t tell you how happy I am that the ripple is starting.
Hope you have a Read more...

‘Get to the deeper business of being beautiful inside’.

I found out recently that one of my friends from school has been in hospital for five years with anorexia. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about her – what she’s going through and what she feels about herself. Read more...

If you watch just one video on the internet this week, let it be this one. It’s utterly beautiful and incredibly moving all the way until the end. Thank you Natalie Clarkson for sending this to me, I love it. Read more...

Being in the countryside.

I had a great afternoon chatting with the lovely Emilie, Grace, Lydia and Elizabeth. Thank you girls! I love your thoughts about beauty, opinions on photoshop and ideas on how we can become happier with ourselves just as we are. Read more...

That’s what I read every January in magazines. The pages are full of diet tips, resolutions, ideas about revamping your wardrobe and suggestions about how a new haircut can make you feel like a Read more...

Oh my gosh – you’re here, on koko! I’ve been looking forward to this day for SO long.